“A Vampire’s very physiology is drastically different from us humans,” The instructor spoke, pacing around the large instruction hall with an ornate cane in his hand, "Take their vampiric brain, for one. From our dissections, we've seen immensely lowered serotonin production, specifically in regards to urge control – while specific pathways relating to endorphin and dopamine release are much stronger in response to feeding. Thus, drinking our blood is immensely pleasurable for them, even more so than certain carnal acts a human might partake in."

Rosa tapped her pencil against her notebook, her chin resting on her palm as her eyes remained focused on the front of the class.

"However, their urge is not the only trait which makes them dangerous, as you all should know. In many ways, their brains are much more powerful than ours," The man paused for a moment, eyes narrowed, "Their cerebral cortex is around fourteen percent larger than ours. What's more, their neurons fire at almost eight times the speed of a human brain! This allows them to process information much faster than we can. For instance, though tangentially related, a Vampire's sense of smell is so powerful that it's not unlike the sensory perception of a canine – their ability to hear is nearly twenty times the range of a Human's, and their eyesight is around forty per cent sharper, allowing them to see objects in the distance far clearer than us."

The instructor, a short man with shoddily hidden, graying hair and a hooked nose, walked over to the large chalkboard behind him, writing a series of numbers in a line.

"With their enhanced neurons, their reaction time is many times greater. On average, a Human, in our resting, healthy state, can respond to visual stimuli with a delay of around 300 milliseconds; that is, the amount of time it takes for our brain to perceive and respond to a stimulus. Even a lowly Turned Vampire's response time is closer to 40 milliseconds, far exceeding ours in almost all cases. Of course, a Vampire's reflexes are not the only factor of difficulty related to killing them, but it is a large factor nonetheless."

The taller woman sitting beside Rosa, Elsie, poked her, leaning in, "Hey... do you get what he's talking about...?"

"Shh," Rosa muttered, her gaze not moving from the board, "This’ll probably be on a test..."

"And the rest of their body? The difference is no less stark. Their muscle fibers are three times as dense as a Human's, their bones twice as thick. However, to counteract this increased weight, their body does not store nearly any excess fat. This leads to them needing to eat much more commonly than us, barely able to last a week without food before perishing. However, their water intake is around the same, and as for blood consumption... A Vampire needs to drink at least five liters of blood per month to stay healthy. The longest a Turned Vampire can last without any blood at all is around two and a half months. After that, their body will begin to decay as it cannot pump any new blood through their cold arteries."

He stopped writing as he turned to the class, his hands harshly grasping the podium in front of him.

"However, there's one fact you need to remember more than anything: When exactly a Vampire will become Bloodstarved. We've found it's the same number for each specimen we've studied. All the same amount of days... Forty three. If a Vampire goes without blood for more than forty three days, their brain will begin to shut down. The longer they are without blood, the worse the effects become. Their mental capacity will be reduced, their cognitive functions will decline, and, eventually, they will lose the ability to speak or even think. During this period, they will be unable to stay in their fully human form, reverting back to their bestial bat-like state. It is, unfortunately, when they are most dangerous. They will do anything just for a single drop of our blood... as such, you must remember to stay calm if ever faced by a Bloodstarved Vampire, and I can assure you all that one day, you will."

"And when that day comes, pray to God your silver bullets strike true. If it’s a turned, stake it through the heart– and if it’s a True Blood, shoot it through the skull or destroy its brain. That’s the only way you’ll ever survive.”

--

The dark was so much different when outside the great walls of Central City. It was colder, and the silence was so much louder. Not a single sound, not a single light. Just a void that stretched out forever, only broken by the occasional tree or bush.

It had been three days since she left Sanctuary. She had driven the car almost non-stop, stopping only to refuel and occasionally get out to stretch her legs. It was a pain, but she had to push through it. She had to find her answers first and foremost.

As she drove, her eyes focused on the map. She had a vague idea of where she was going, but the long nights and new territory made her uneasy. More than just uneasy, it made her fearful. She wasn't exactly a seasoned journeyer, and the dilapidated roads didn't make finding her way any easier.

At the current speed she was going, it would take her around a month and a bit to reach the final stop before leaving Sanctuary's borders, most likely for good. That was accounting for the few stops in the smaller towns on the way, sometimes, for a decent place to sleep, and more commonly, for more fuel.

She hadn't seen another car or person since she first left. It was completely and utterly barren, as if every being in the world had perished and left her alone.

If only that were true for the Vampires. She knew there were almost zero Vampires in Sanctuary territory, but that number certainly didn't mean her safety. No, it meant there was still the chance for her to be attacked, even here. And, considering the recent attack on Central, there very well might be survivors on the Vampire's side who ran off to cause chaos.

She sighed, turning on the old car radio. Jasper had said it had some old songs on it, and she was starting to nod off. She needed something to keep her up and engaged, if she wanted to stay in one piece, that is.

"Come on, you rusty thing..." She mumbled, turning the dial slowly as you inserted an old cassette, listening closely for any sort of sound, "Let's see if you really can work."

It took her a minute, but eventually, a low hum began to crackle from the speakers, a song playing. A smooth, pleasant jazz beat played, and she felt herself smile a little, her eyes remaining on the road.

As much as she hated everything to do with Vampires, even the music they created, this sort of melody just reminded her of better times. The night at the bar she spent with Elsie, awkwardly dancing with her in tune with the live music that sounded quite similar to what was playing right now.

The times before everything went wrong.

Still, she had to wonder why exactly this nearly ancient machine had such music if it was made by humans. Did they find it somewhere, or…? It made her a tad concerned, but she didn't care to overthink the matter. She just wanted a simple distraction, and she got it.

That's all she needed.

She didn't need the reminder that she was in a world she was near clueless about. She didn't need to think about the fact she had no clue how she'd kill the damn thing that ruined her life.

She was fine just focusing on the music and the road ahead.

--

It was still night when she finally stopped. The first town was just a little ways away, but her body was begging, pleading for her to get some rest. She truly didn't want to listen to it, but as much as it pained her, she was going to pass out if she exerted herself any further.

The area around her was just as barren and lifeless as the rest of the near endless flatlands, however, there was one major difference here. A small structure, the paint on the building chipping off and the large sign on top flickering, the letter 'M' and 'T' no longer functioning whatsoever. It was a building she'd never seen before, but one she remembered hearing about. Back before the first war, these were used as resting spots, one you'd pay the owner to temporarily use.

A 'motel', from what the sign said. She had to squint to properly read it, however.

Despite how desolate and unkempt the building, the fact there were lights meant there had to be people. Or, at the very least, a working generator-- And, perhaps, if whatever higher power there might be granted her the pleasure, a shower.

Even if she wasn't hot-- quite the opposite, the fact she had to keep the windows shut to keep out the snow made the air stuffy, causing her to sweat. Plus, three days without properly cleaning herself didn't exactly do her well, hygiene wise. The thought of washing off and cooling down was the best thing she could imagine just about now.

So, after placing her rifle inside her coat behind her back, partially out of view though not impossible to spot, she went to park the car in the motel's parking lot. There were a few other cars, evidentially showing there were other people staying here. That made her feel a bit better.

Getting out of the car and making sure to lock it, she walked over to the large wooden doors, her fingers loosely gripping the cold, slightly damp, metal door handle.

She pulled open the door, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. The inside of the motel was nearly completely quiet, thus, the sound caught the attention of the clerk, a tired looking woman with curly brown hair who had a book in her hand. Her eyes widened somewhat at the sudden noise, though relaxed as her Green eyes met Rosa's.

The first thing she noticed after the woman was the long-barreled shotgun leaned up against the wall beside her.

"Welcome," The woman spoke, her hand tightening as she closed the book, "... Haven't seen your face before. Where you comin' from?"

"Central City," Rosa answered without missing a beat, walking up to the desk, "I was hoping to get a room. For... just the night."

"Central?" Her eyebrow rose, her gaze narrowing, "What the hell are you doing out here? If I could afford to live there, I sure as hell wouldn't be runnin' this place."

"It’s a long story. Could I get a room, please?" Rosa instinctively took a step backwards, her eyes bouncing between the woman and the shotgun by her.

She let out a low sigh, shaking her head, "Sorry, kid. You can never be too careful out here... you could be some fugitive-- or hell, a disguised vamp... You got some sort of ID?"

The woman seemed to almost wince a slight bit as she uttered the word ‘Vamp’, though whatever feeling it caused seemed to not last long. At least, outwardly.

Rosa quietly gulped, taking a breath in as she blinked down. She couldn't think of a way out of this without complying, so… She reached into her pocket. She noticed how the woman's hand was placed upon the firearm, though she didn't seem to be threatening her. Just a precaution.

She eventually pulled a small card out, placing it down upon the table in front of her as she turned it for her to read.

"Military...?" She raised an eyebrow as she leaned forward, "Private Rosa Varano... So, you're a soldier?"

"Yes."

"... What're you doing out here, then?"

"I'm on a mission," She lied without batting an eye, remembering the general confidence Jasper had when doing the same, "It's classified – Though, I can say that I'm tracking down a Vampire that's heading for the border."

She kept her posture straight, her eyes focused straight on despite how much she wanted to avoid looking her in the eyes. She tried to think of the times she'd seen others do this, try and remember how they acted. How they lied.

"I... see." She nodded slowly, returning to a more calm pose as she leaned on the table, "I suppose that's a good enough reason for me... Though, I am curious... Why are you all alone? Typically, soldiers don't just travel by themselves, do they?"

Rosa subconsciously bit her bottom lip, though didn't wait to respond, "Central is already stressed for forces as it stands. Can't send out an entire platoon to deal with a single Turned, not when we could be attacked again any moment now. Besides, I have the means to protect myself."

The woman’s eyes fell to the rifle on Rosa’s back before nodding, "Fair enough... though, with you saying that, is it true they managed to get past the walls...?"

Rosa clenched her teeth, her hands growing taut. She didn't want to remember what happened that day. Not now. "... Yes. They did." Was thus all she made out.

They were both silent for a few moments, the women seeming to closely examine Rosa's facial expression. She didn't dare try and look away. After all, she couldn't show weakness.

Eventually, the woman's expression softened, letting out a long sigh, "Sorry. I didn't mean to bring up any painful memories. Hopefully, those who died can rest easy..." She avoided eye contact with Rosa as she spoke.

Rosa breathed in sharply, taking back her military identification card as she spoke, "About getting a room?"

"Right, right. Just let me grab a key, then..." She leaned down, rummaging through a drawer below the counter before pulling out a key.

"How much will it cost?"

"Nothin'. Consider it my thanks for your service, little soldier. Besides, I've already got my preparations done for the rest of the winter, not gonna be needing cash too badly 'till spring rolls around. So, here."

She slid the key over to her, Rosa reaching out to take it, "Thank you…” Such kindness was certainly unexpected, but it wasn’t out of character. After all, it wasn’t like this woman was a Vampire. Most humans were kind, that’s how it worked, what was necessary to survive. “I don't mean to sound ungrateful, or anything, but, does it have a shower...?"

"Course. The water heater's been acting up, though, so it may be a bit cold..."

"At this point, it could be literal ice and I'd take it," Rosa let out a prolonged sigh, with the woman chuckling in response.

"It's room eight. Walk up the stairs and it'll be on the right. And, if you need anything, feel free to ask, unless it's in a few hours. I'll be asleep by then."

With a nod, Rosa walked past the woman as she went back to reading her book. Rosa could spot from the corner of the eye the title, 'Carmilla' scrawled in black ink. She didn't recognize it, though she never did read many novels. She was always far too busy for things like that, and she’d rather spend her time with Elsie than… than…

She quickly ran that thought from her head.

Rosa walked over to the stairs, ascending the creaky wooden steps slowly and surely. Once she had reached the top, she looked left and right, the hallway stretching out a fair distance and wooden doors surrounding her on both sides. It seemed all so... rustic. Old and slightly decrepit.

She walked over to the door with the large, brass eight on the front, her hand moving to the handle as she inserted the key. With a simple turn, it clicked, and pushing it open, the scent of dust immediately filled her nostrils, making her sneeze.

"Bleh..." She always hated that smell. Whenever she smelt a surplus of dust, there were almost always bodies close by. She prayed that wouldn't be true in this case.

She walked inside, turning on the light. The room was quite small, though perhaps… cozy, if she wanted to lie to herself. There was one single twin sized bed, the blanket and pillow seemingly freshly changed. Beside the bed was a wooden table, and by the far wall was a tiny box television, though she doubted it worked.

To her left was the bathroom, the door being opened a crack as the darkness inside seemed to consume everything.

She closed the main door, walking over and setting her rifle down next to the bed, the gun's metal frame clinking against the wooden tiles.

Her bag was set down beside her weapon, and, with a small huff, she plopped down on the bed. It wasn't soft, and the frame creaked, but the blanket was nice. She pulled it up against her, the texture wonderfully smooth and fuzzy, if a little prickly. Not great compared to her old living situation, but compared to sleeping in a small, cold car, it was heavenly.

She laid there for a while, staring at the ceiling and thoughtlessly counting the numerous bumps. The room was dead silent, so she was able to focus on her own breathing and that alone. It was pleasant.

She didn't know how much time passed, an hour, maybe more, before she decided to finally get herself clean.

With a groan, she stood, her hands grasping the bottom of her coat, quickly pulling it off as she placed it down upon the bed. She didn't feel like folding it, but it’s not like she was going to just throw it around without care for the cleanliness.

As she walked over to the bathroom, she checked once more that she locked the door, her eyes scrutinizing it for every detail. Even here, she couldn't trust that she was safe. After all, there were three other cars parked here before she arrived. Even if one of them belonged to the woman from before, there were at least two other people renting a room here. She wasn't going to trust her good will and believe they were all perfectly kind people, much more so after hearing the woman mention fugitives.

For the sake of her own sanity, she ignored the fact she was now technically a fugitive.

The bathroom was small and cramped, even more so than the rest of the room, with the shower being the only thing of true substance occupying it, the rest of the space being used up by the comparatively tiny sink and toilet.

She took a deep breath in, her hands moving to her shirt. Her fingers grasped the somewhat rough fabric, pulling it over her head. With just that alone removed, the cold air felt so much more intense than before. She could see tiny goosebumps pop up across her arms as her hair stood on end.

The dark cargo pants she wore were next, pulling them down and leaving her in nothing but her underwear. She could see her stomach clearly in the mirror in front of her, the faint hint of abs formed across her front side. Even just these few days had caused her to lose a bit of definition, though it wasn't like she was ever all too muscular. What’s more, the relatively lax, or down right malnourishing amount of food she had been eating lately certainly made her musculature more visible. Still, she'd always been relatively small, and despite her constant training and physical exertion, she'd never managed to gain any significant mass.

It was strange. Compared to her mother and father, who were both quite tall and defined, she had ended up being nearly the complete opposite. It made her wonder why exactly she was so different, and yet, so similar. She supposed her eye colour and the slight roundness of her face were the only traits she shared with her mother, other than her black hair. The actual shape of her eyes were more similar to her father, however, and perhaps her nose, too.

She absentmindedly combed her hand through her before mentioned hair. It reached just below her neck, thick and the slightest bit frizzy. It was something else that reminded her of her mother. Her father's hair was short, and much more straight and smooth.

"..."

She let out a short breath, her mind snapping back to reality as her hands moved to her bra, unclasping it and allowing it to drop to the floor. As for her underwear, she did the same without much delay.

Stepping into the shower, she reached out, turning the frigid handle. There was a brief second of silence before she heard a low hum, followed by a gurgle and sputter.

The water was freezing cold. Cascading down in what felt like waves of ice. Rosa almost jumped up at the sensation, her breath catching as she moved out of the way. She hugged the corner of the shower, just out of range of the spraying water.

It took her a moment to recover, and, once her initial shock had subsided, she forced herself under the shower's stream.

"Ghhh--!" Her teeth clattered together as her arms instinctively wrapped around herself, the prickling sensation of the cold water splashing across her skin nearly causing her to jump out of the way once again. She held her ground, however, taking a shaky breath in.

Even the coldest of showers back in the academy couldn't compare to this. God, she missed having warm showers…

Still, she had to grit her teeth and bear it. So, as much as she didn't want to, she began to wash her body with the given amenities. The bar of soap was very obviously used by the previous occupant as well, and not been replaced hence. Still, rinsing it off first seemed to solve her general feeling of disgust.

There was shampoo, and shampoo only. A tiny bottle with no label and no discernible sign of being shampoo other than the fact it was all that was available. It smelled bitter. Like citrus and alcohol, but it did the job, at the very least.

The moment she finished, and not a second sooner, she rushed to turn off the water. Her entire body was shivering, and she felt as if she might faint if her head was subjected to another moment of that icy hell.

"Hhh..." She rubbed her eyes, her vision a tad blurry.

Even if it was the most unpleasant experience she'd had in quite some time, it was still worth it just to finally wash off. And, perhaps the cold had been a bit... sobering, in a sense. Not that she'd consumed any certain substances in a while, but it cleared her mind. Although, that might just be the case because it made it difficult to think at all.

She began drying herself off with one of the tiniest towels she could imagine using, before putting her clothes back on to wade off the cold, if only by a little.

Now, she could focus on the other pressing issue. Sleep.

As she walked out of the bathroom and flicked off the light, she made sure to pull the curtains on the window completely shut, even double checking that the lock was fully secure.

She was paranoid, yes, but she needed to be. She'd heard enough horror stories about people being slaughtered in their sleep by Vampires, and considering where she was now, that might not be too far off.

Especially after hearing the noise that came from the hallway.

It was muffled, and yet, distinct enough that she could make out its origin. Footsteps, and then, the opening of a door. The person in the room next to hers. She didn't think there was anybody there, but it looked like she was wrong.

Rosa's eyes snapped to her gun, her breath silencing as she made sure she wasn't just hearing things.

The sound continued. Heavy boots pacing across the wooden floor as a low mumble was heard. It didn't sound like someone speaking to themselves, not unless they had a very lucid habit of it. No, they were talking to someone.

"... Yes... No... I'm there right now." Their somewhat masculine, though not especially deep, voice was somewhat hushed, almost as if they didn’t want anyone to hear.

Rosa's heart began to beat faster. She had thought she was going crazy, but… maybe, just maybe…

"No, she isn't... Yeah, she told me herself. Alone without anybody else, though I guess that’s to be expected.”

They were talking about her. They had to be! There was no other explanation. A soldier, perhaps? Or worse, a hunter. Would they really send someone after her, though? And so quickly after she left?

"No, don't worry. I've got this under control. I'll finish it tonight. It'll be simple... You're not gonna skip out on payment again, right?" Their voice was somewhat rushed, clicking their tongue by the end of their sentence.

Payment? So, it wasn't any official from Central. So, maybe some mercenary? But would they really go so far as to use the services of someone like that? No, it might be possible. Perhaps they wanted to keep it on the down-low, to make sure nobody even knew she left in the first place.

While she thought, she had grabbed her rifle and leaned against the wall closest to the door. She didn't want to even think of using it, but if she was truly in danger as she suspected, it might be inevitable.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"... Fine. I'll do it now. Just make sure you don’t forget... This isn't easy work, y'know."

Her hand was placed on the door knob, her other one gripping the firearm tightly.

"... Yeah–”

Rosa slammed the door open suddenly and quickly, her eyes jumping left and right before landing upon the speaker from before. She spotted them immediately, pointing her rifle directly forward facing their skull.

"Drop the phone and get on your knees."

She was thankful that the motel didn't have any security cameras, along with relatively thick walls.

“Huh–!?" Their brown eyes widened, and what looked to be a small communications device fell out of their hands, "Wh– what are you–"

"I said get-- get on the fucking ground!" Rosa's finger hovered over the trigger, her eyes narrowed and her posture stiff as she raised her voice just enough to get her point across. She didn't yell, however. She couldn't wake anyone.

"Okay! Okay, just-- just don't shoot me...!" The man-- no, the boy, his voice cracking, did as he was told, falling onto his knees and putting his hands behind his head, "Please, I... I'll give you anything, just don't kill me..."

She clenched her teeth, her grip shaking somewhat, "Don't play-- don't-- don't play dumb. I heard you. I heard what you were saying."

"W-What...? I-- I was just on a call, that's all! Please, I--"

"You're a mercenary, right? Don't deny it. You're... you're here for me, aren't you...?!” She took a step closer, extending her rifle a tad further as she placed the cold barrel upon his head, "Just say it. I’ll… I’ll shoot."

"I'm not--"

"Stop lying to me!" She pushed the rifle further into his head, causing him to let out a gasp.

"Please... I don't know what you're talking about! Just let me–"

She heard footsteps approaching. Her breath came to a halt as she stepped back, grabbing the boy by the collar as she pulled him back into her room. She quickly shut the door right after, locking it, and turned her attention back to the boy, who had been dropped unceremoniously to the ground.

"Listen," She kneeled, her eyes focusing on his, "Just... tell me the truth. Who are you, and why are you here?"

He looked absolutely petrified. His hands were still on the back of his head, his eyes wide and his pupils shrunken.

"I– I'm just a traveller! David– that's my name! I'm not whatever you're thinking, okay?"

"Who were you talking to, then?! I heard you say you were paid to do something! To kill someone!"

"W-w-what!? Kill someone-- Why would I do that?! I'm just– a mechanic, okay?! I don't have any reason to hurt anybody– I– I– Please, don't hurt me..." He was shaking, tears forming at the corners of his eyes, his expression growing panicked, "I was just talking to my mother! The owner of this place paid for a repair job a few days ago! Since my mom's also my employer, I was asking if she'd… Well…"

"..." Rosa was silent. She could tell from his voice and face he was surely telling the truth, he had to be. And, when she examined the rest of his body, she couldn't spot any sort of firearm or blade on his partially cloaked body, not even a hammer or equipment for his job. By all means, he was a completely defenseless person...

She stood, looking down at him as he trembled.

"... I'm so fucking sorry." Rosa placed her rifle down on her bed, holding her forehead as she looked up at the ceiling.

"What...?" He was quiet, still, but his voice had a tinge of confusion, "Why are you apologizing...?"

"I... I thought you were going to kill me, and I just– I just... I messed up."

"Wait, you’re– you're saying you were afraid I was going to hurt you?"

"Yes. I'm so sorry. I was just– Ugh.”

"Hold on a second," David had seemingly regained his composure as he stood, brushing off his knees, "If you were scared I was going to attack you, is... someone after you? Are you alright?"

He almost immediately changed his tone, a look of genuine concern spreading across his face.

Rosa blinked. This... was weird, but… Huh.

"I'm... no, it's nothing. It's fine."

"That's not true," He frowned, shaking his head, "I don't know why exactly you're being hunted, but it's obvious it's serious. You need help."

"..." Rosa was quiet, biting her bottom lip, "What's with the sudden change of tone, though? Aren't you... aren't you angry at me for threatening you like that?"

He shook his head, wiping his leftover tears, "No, not at all. When... someone is scared, they can't be blamed for their mistakes. I can't fault you for trying to save your own life."

"... You..." She didn't know how to respond. It was such a simple and honest response, one she wouldn't have expected in the slightest. "... You're way too kind."

He smiled, "Maybe. But, I think that's a good thing, especially when you're in danger! Please, I know we just met, but I'm not the kind of guy who could ever ignore someone in need. So, if you're in trouble, then..."

"... What are you proposing?" Rosa crossed her arms, taking a sharp breath in.

"I'm gonna be up all night fixing the heater, so I'll make sure no one tries to get you while you're asleep! If you're scared of being attacked, then you can trust me. I swear on my life I'll protect you."

"..." She paused, her expression growing stern, "What do you want in return?"

"Nothing. I'm not gonna ask you for money, or anything, if that's what you're thinking. I just... I just wanna help."

"..." She sighed, shaking her head, "I'm... I'm sorry for how I treated you. I'm not... usually this much of an asshole, it's just..."

"Hey, hey," He walked over, putting his hand on her shoulder. Rosa flinched at the sensation, though David didn't seem to notice, "I mean, either way I'm gonna do it. I can't sleep without knowing someone's safe. Besides, you look like you haven't gotten proper rest in weeks! Please, just say yes. It'll make me feel better...?"

"... Fine.... Thank you. Truly, thank you."

He smiled, pulling his hand back, "Of course! And, I promise not to do anything myself! Scout's honor!"

"Scout's... huh?"

"Oh, uh... old phrase. Just means I'll keep my word! Anyways, I'll see you later, Rosa." He turned away with a smile.

"... Yeah, I–” She paused for a moment, her fists lightly clenched as she looked towards the ground. “Mm… Bye."

David approached the door, his hand reaching for the handle as–

As a gunshot fired from behind him.

The sound was deafening, echoing across the small room and surely throughout the entire motel.

And, as blood poured from the hole in his stomach, Rosa felt her world crumble around her.

"N-no..." She stuttered, her hand quivering as the gun fell from her grasp, the metallic scent of blood filling the room. She eventually stood, her breath quickening as she took one step forward after the other.

"Wh... why... Why would--" David sputtered, coughing up blood as he fell to the ground.

"I'm... I'm so sorry... I... I..." Her eyes widened, her gaze unable to pry itself from his slowly dying figure.

"... Why would you shoot-- shoot... me..."

"..."

“Why…”

"I never told you... my name."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she placed her silver-toed boot upon his back. No reaction. She could be sure he wasn't a Vampire, at the very least. He was human.

... She killed a human.

No, he wasn't dead yet, and as much as her hands shook, as much as her mind raced and her vision blurred, she couldn't afford to stop here. Not when she could be attacked again, not when she wasn't aware of the complete circumstance.

So, as much as her heart screamed for her to stop, to let him live, her body did otherwise.

She bent down, rolling him over so that his face was pointed towards the ceiling. She lowered her eyebrows, her eyes glancing down to the bullet hole in his abdomen. It was leaking more and more blood by the second, the liquid pooling onto the wooden boards below. The smell alone almost made her gag, the warm liquid slowly seeping through his clothing and onto her.

"Hah..." David took in a breath, his eyes meeting hers, "You're... fuck– you'd really shoot me... because of one slip of the tongue... ?"

"... Not just one. You first said you were a traveler, then… then changed your story to being a mechanic. You… lied. For a reason…”

"Nghh..." He clenched his teeth, his eyes narrowing as he murmured raspy words, "... It was the owner of this shit hole. She was... well, apparently you've got a price on your head... to be brought back alive, though..."

"..." She gulped, her eyes widening, "So, you really were a mercenary..."

"H-hired... gun, if we're to be specific. I'm not a fan of the word... ‘merc’...."

He was fading fast, but Rosa couldn't let that happen. She didn't want to, she couldn’t. She didn't want to kill him. She didn’t want to end the life of a living, thinking person… but what she had just done? She couldn’t take it back.

"... Tell me more, please." She spoke with a monotone voice, at least the best one she could muster.

"F-- Fuck off. Just... just finish the job, already... you... coward...!"

"... Don't say that," Rosa looked to the ground, breathing through her mouth, "You... you look even younger than me... so, why would you throw your life away...?"

"What... What other choice... did I have... ? No, I wasn't given a choice. My family needs money... and I had no other skills... other than... ghh– tricking... people..."

"... I'm sorry."

"Hah... you say that... after fucking shooting me...?" He spat up more blood, his hands shakily rising to his chest, his fingers grasping the fabric of his shirt, "Too little, too late... I've had to live my every life trying to fuckin' survive... doubt you could even begin to understand that. You're some fancy soldier... from Central. Hiding behind your walls..."

"I didn't–"

"Shut the fuck up!" He yelled, his voice cracking. Even as he was bleeding out, his gaze carried a harsh air. One filled with hatred, "You people... think you're so above us... the poor folk outside the walls... you don't have to worry about your family starving... or a Vam--"

"Stop. Talking." She raised her voice, her expression growing cold, "... Not... another word."

She grabbed the knife she had sheathed on her side, holding it to David's throat. She didn't want to do it. She didn't. She kept telling herself that.

"... You're so fucking weak– it's sad." David muttered, his lips curling into a smile, "You can't even bring yourself to kill a single person. You– Ugh… you sure... you're a soldier?"

"..."

"Pussy. The fact you're wanted alive proves my fuckin' point... being protected by the government... while the rest of us die outside those walls..."

"..."

"Kill me, bitch." He coughed once again, blood spraying across her face, "Or don't... whatever. I'll... bleed out either way. It's all... the same."

"... I don't..."

"You don't what...?" David leaned forward, as much as his body ached.

"Think I care anymore."

With one quick, shaky move, she slit his throat. As she ripped through his carotid and jugular, blood spurt out in beat with his slowing heart. Her face, and much of her body, was covered in his blood. She closed her eyes as she wiped them, eventually opening to gaze down at the blood upon her hands.

The feeling of a human's blood on her hands, the sensation of their warmth slowly leaving their body... it was all so... horrible. Her hands began to shiver, and then shake uncontrollably. Her mouth hung open as she tried to breathe in, tried to do anything but look down at the soon to be corpse in front of her.

Still, as much as she wished she could, she wasn't able to bring herself to utter a single sound. Much less cry.

She stumbled back, tripping onto her back as the sight entered her peripheral once more. She placed her hands over her eyes, biting her lips as she willed away the awful scene before her. It wasn't enough. The faint image appeared in front of her and she felt something rising inside her body.

She vomited, the motion coming suddenly as her body lurched forward. It splattered against the ground, mixing with the bloody surroundings as her throat and mouth burned.

With another slow, painful retch, her head cleared. Enough to finally make a coherent thought.

She had just killed someone for the first time. She hadn't even been able to kill a Vampire, something less than human… let alone a person with a life and a family, possibly just as big as her own. And, she had taken it away, ripped it away from him in an instant, in the most painful of ways.

She almost threw up again.

"Augh... I... can't..."

What could she even do? Everyone in the motel must have heard what has transpired. What's more, she knew for a fact that the owner of this place was against her... She was armed, too. She was in more and more danger.

If she wasn't prepared for her position before, she was now. The clock was ticking. Every second she spent wallowing in her own disgust and pity was another second wasted.

"I have to..."

She pushed her body upwards, using her rifle to support herself. With heavy steps, she staggered forward, pressing her boots upon the fallen figure's clothing. She bent down, pulling out his wallet. If it existed, she'd go to hell for this. She knew that for a fact... but she was fine with that.

From within the leather, she pulled a wad of cash, which she was quick to shove in her coat's pocket. That's all that was of worth, so she simply threw it to the side after standing up.

She grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulders as she picked up her gun, the metal cold against her fingertips. It felt wrong holding it again, so close to the one she killed using it.

There was no turning back.

So, with a deep breath, she unlocked the door, opening the door near silently as she pointed her gun left and right. There was no one to cover her, so she had to be quick, decisive and perceptive.

The hallway was dark. There were no windows, no light. Darkness. It was all she could see, or, in this case, couldn't see. Her grip only tightened with each step she took.

"..."

Her breathing quieted entirely as she neared the staircase. However, the moment she turned the corner, her body froze.

A woman was there, her hands on the railing. Her posture was rigid, her head turned in Rosa's direction. She wore a white button-up shirt covered in blood, and a pair of black shorts. She seemed young, a similar age to herself.

Perhaps she only looked young, however. After all, her eyes were silver, and her partially red stained hair was white.

"Ah... hello," The woman smiled, her sharpened teeth on full display. "What a... pleasant surprise."

Her breath was caught in her throat, her hand trembling as her finger moved to the trigger.

"Don't." The woman spoke, a sharpened nail moving the barrel out of the way. Rosa wasn't strong enough to resist it, not as she continued to speak, "Now, would you like to come down and join me for a chat?"

Rosa gulped, her feet shakily moving one after the other.

"That's a good girl." The Vampire smirked, her eyes focused upon her, "Come. the others were so quick to violence... but you're not going to repeat their mistakes. I’m sure… you seem smarter.”

Her entire body felt numb, paralyzed in absolute horror.

Not just because of the Vampire in front of her, not fully.

But because the scent of blood returned down here. And how she now realized why nobody came out of their rooms, not after that gunshot.

As she followed the monster to the ground floor, three lifeless corpses came into view.

The owner, the curly haired woman from before.

A young girl, no older than fourteen.

And an elderly man, his hair grayed and his hands wrinkled.

All of them were torn apart. Like as if a rabid beast had maimed them, ripped them to shreds and devoured them. Their insides all spilled out from their torso, with intestines tied together and splayed out in strange patterns. It was like some grotesque, macabre art display, one that she surely would have puked at the sight of if not for her now completely empty stomach.

"I got a bit bored," The Vampire held out her hand.

Shaking still, Rosa took it. She didn't want to know what might happen if she refused.

"Good girl." She repeated the same phrase she spoke earlier, her grip so tight upon Rosa's hand it hurt. She led her away from the scene into a separate room, a tiny space with a single table in the middle and a small kitchen connected to it.

"Have a seat." The Vampire courteously pulled back a chair near Rosa, her eyes narrowed at her as if she was looking towards a meal.

She sat down. She had no choice, after all.

"You're an obedient one. Like a perfectly trained dog... no, you're a puppy." She pushed the chair forward, stopping just before Rosa would meet the table. "I dislike a disobedient dog. Those get put down."

Rosa didn't dare to look up, looking directly down at the table as the Vampire sat down on the other side. She placed her hands down, her elbows on the wooden surface, "Now, I'm sure you're a smart girl. You've seen what happens when a dog tries to act out. I don't believe you are going to attempt that."

Rosa was silent. Her mind was racing, the urge to run was all she could think of. She wanted to get out, but the image of the bodies, the scent of blood, was still all around her. For all she knew, this could be a True Blood-- or worse.

"Tell me... what is your name, pup?" The Vampire tapped her nails against the table in a melodic fashion, over and over. It was distracting.

Rosa couldn't answer. It felt like she was being choked, all air unable to leave her throat.

"... Answer me, bitch. I don't want a mute pet."

"... Rosa." She mumbled, her bottom lip quivering.

"Oh, you do speak! Good girl. Now, where are your manners?"

"...?" Despite not looking up at her, the Vampire could notice a hint of confusion on her face.

"Look at me when you speak. Look me in the eyes."

Rosa clenched her teeth. Her breath grew shaky.

"Now, tell me your name once more. And, don't mutter, either. Speak clearly."

She had no choice.

"... Rosa. My... name is Rosa."

"Good, good."

Rosa could feel her silver eyes digging into her skull as the Vampire stood up, walking slowly towards her with a gait she found simply horrifying.

"Roses are an interesting flower. They carry such a wonderful scent, but their thorns are dangerous. A Rose isn't a flower you can pick without caution, as you may end up bleeding." She stood behind her. The Vampire's cold hands reached for Rosa's face, her fingers touching her cheek as she forced her head upwards in a less than delicate manner. "... And yet, if you have the patience and the care to tend to a Rose, to protect it, to nurture it, to remove its pesky thorns, you can enjoy its beauty without worry."

Her hand caressed Rosa's chin, her thumb running along her bottom lip. Rosa felt equally horrified and disgusted by the touch, "You're no common rose, however. No... you remind me of a black rose. Beautiful, alluring, but... always surrounded by death. I wonder what will happen if I try to pluck a petal off."

Her hand lowered, grasping Rosa's neck and squeezing tightly. Not enough to choke her, but enough to make breathing difficult. As well, her nails dug into her skin, not breaking it, but certainly adding to her pain. It was horrible, it made her shiver, made her shake, made her entire being feel as if she was crumbling into dust. She wanted to yell out for her to stop, to somehow avoid this fate which was quickly becoming more and more near.

"Nnn..."

The noise Rosa unintentionally made seemed to make the Vampire lick her lips, loosening her grip right after.

"But that can wait. Do you want to know why I came here?" The Vampire forced her to look her in the eyes, "Say yes."

"... Yes."

"Because I heard you from miles away... A meal is so hard to come by in your little 'Sanctuary'..." She sighed, "You were the one who shot a gun, I suppose... Who did you kill?"

"..."

"Answer, bitch."

"... He was... a mercenary."

"Mercenary? How interesting." The Vampire hummed, "Did he attack you?"

"... I shot him because he lied."

"I see. You're a paranoid little pup... not a bad thing. But, if you're a good girl, you won't have to be scared. I'll take good care of you." The Vampire's gaze softened somewhat, though, her expression was still one of hunger.

"..."

"Well, we should get moving. I know a place where you can get a... proper rest, and I’m sure staying here will only make things dangerous. You've surely been sleeping in the worst possible conditions… An adorable puppy like you deserves better."

"... You want me... alive...?"

"Yes, of course." She smiled, "I've had my fill. Now... I crave something else. And, you are exactly what I need. A pretty little thing, all mine to play with."

Rosa's breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide as the Vampire leaned forward, her tongue brushing along her neck. It made Rosa shiver, her mouth falling agape though not a word escaped her.

She could feel as tears formed in the corners of her eyes at the thought, her heart pounding against her chest.

"Oh, don't cry. You'll have everything you need. Food, shelter, protection... and, a nice, warm bed to sleep in." The Vampire stopped for a moment, however only to pull the chair back as she straddled her lap. Rosa was pinned, forced to stare directly into the Vampire's eyes, her hands on her shoulders, "Just do what I say, and you'll live for as long as I want. Easy, right?”

Rosa blinked down, her body stiffening. It was nauseating, the room almost spinning as she was stuck, silent. It was like her mind had completely shut down, any thoughts being washed away by a wave of fear and disgust.

It was only heightened when she felt the tongue of the Vampire licking along her neck once again, her cold hands slowly wrapping around her as they trailed down to her back.

"I can feel your heartbeat... it's like a drum." The Vampire's voice was almost a whisper, a raspy, sickening tone that made Rosa's entire body convulse, "I love how warm your skin is... It's so... lovely..."

The Vampire's lips pressed against Rosa's skin, the feeling sending a chill up her spine as she instinctively tried to pull back, though there was nowhere for her to go. She was forced to sit, sit and be held so horribly.

The Vampire's teeth scraped along Rosa's neck, though never did pierce her. Didn't dare take away the delicious warmth she had.

"Don't... Please..." Rosa managed to mutter, her voice hoarse.

The Vampire only laughed in response, her hands slowly and roughly running along her body. They slid down to her hips, then her thighs.

"So warm... So cute, too." The Vampire kissed along Rosa's neck, "I could just eat you right up... Your blood... and your supple flesh."

"S... stop..."

"But I won't. No, I’m no brute. I'll take good care of you... you'll be mine."

Rosa didn't know how much longer she could keep this up. It was so, so awful. Everything was, from the scent of blood, to the feeling of her touch, and her words, her whispers, it was all... horrid.

Rosa's hand twitched, her fingers curling inwards. She wanted to move. To do something. Anything.

The Vampire's teeth were at her ear, her breath chilling. Her hands reached Rosa's sides, slowly grabbing at her coat as she began to take it off.

And while she was distracted, she had her chance at last.

Rosa's eyes shot open, her arm raising as her fingers grasped the silver knife that she had kept hidden. In an instant, she drove the blade through the middle of the Vampire's chest.

"AGH--!" The Vampire yelped, jumping back as the blade was driven deeper into her.

Rosa didn't stop there. She pulled the knife back out, thrusting it into the Vampire's chest once more, pushing it further in until her rib cage began to cave in.

"Ghhhhh--! You fucking BITCH!" The Vampire yelled out, her nails digging into Rosa's shoulders. She could feel the sharp, dagger like claws puncture her skin, the sensation sending a surge of pain throughout her.

Still, it wasn't enough to stop her.

"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" The Vampire grabbed at Rosa's throat, her grip tighter than ever before as her claws began to break through the skin.

The pain increased every moment that went by, but it only grew more and more numb as she attacked.

She ripped the blade out of the Vampire's body, only to thrust it forward again. She did this, over and over, each stab causing blood to jut out and for the pressure the Vampire put onto her neck to increase. She could barely breathe, no. She couldn’t breathe.

"STOP, YOU–!?"

Rosa's head slammed into the Vampire's face, the impact causing the Vampire to let out a yell. It was enough for her to loosen her grip on Rosa's neck, and as soon as that happened, Rosa drove the knife through the Vampire's forehead, pushing her down while also causing the two to fall to the ground. She didn’t dare stop however, not as she sat atop her with increasing ferocity.

She could hear the Vampire sputtering, coughing up blood as it splattered across her face. The Vampire's nails ripped into her clothing, her grip tightening as she tried to pry her off, her fangs exposed as she yelled and yelled.

Rosa didn't let go, instead, her fingers only gripped the knife harder. The handle was slick with blood, and with every moment the blade dug into the Vampire's flesh, she could feel it cutting deeper, closer and closer to breaking through her skull.

"Stop..." The Vampire sputtered, her eyes filled with rage and hatred, her teeth stained red, "S-s-stop, you fucking– BITCH!"

"SHUT UP!" Rosa screamed, slamming the knife down once again. She could hear a crack as the bone in her skull was punctured, a sickening squelch resounding as the tip of the blade pierced her brain.

Blood and brain matter splashed up upon her face, causing her to wince, but not cease.

"Ghhhhh..." The Vampire's eyes grew hazy, her body twitching as her nails began to loosen their grip.

"STOP SAYING THAT! I'M NOT– I'M NOT YOUR PET!" She pulled the knife out, only to thrust it back into her forehead once more with heightened wrath, "DON'T TOUCH ME! DON'T TALK TO ME LIKE I'M A FUCKING ANIMAL! I'M NOT– I’M NOT YOURS!"

"S-s-shhl... khhhhhhkh... nnnnhh..."

"JUST– SHUT UP! SHUT UP, SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"

With one final , the knife went completely through the Vampire's skull, nearly coming out on the other side. Her hands were partially submerged in the broken forehead, her knuckles white under the blood and brain matter it was painted with.

Her breath was pained. It was shallow and rapid.

And yet, the fear didn’t stop, the rage didn’t end.

She couldn't stop.

She pulled the knife back, only to stab her in the forehead once more, and then again, and again, and again. She didn't stop when her arms felt like they were going to fall off, nor when the corpse was an unrecognizable pulp. She didn't pause to breathe, to recuperate, to think. She only stopped when her hands grew numb, unable to even feel the knife anymore.

"Hah... Hah.... Hah..." Her hands shakily released the knife, falling onto her back as she breathed in and out uncontrollably.

She felt sick. Her stomach was churning, her throat was closing up. She couldn't stop it, couldn’t stop any of it. Her eyes were wide, her mouth hung open as she coughed and coughed, her vision growing blurry.

She couldn't throw up properly, however, as much as her body begged for it. Only saliva and stomach acid broke through, dripping down her face and onto the body beneath her.

She tried to stand, but couldn't. Instead, she collapsed to her knees, her head hitting the floor as she struggled to breathe.

All around her, the room was dark. The air was cold. It was colder than anything she had felt before, a pressure in her chest building up and up as her mind screamed at her. Inconsistent blabber filled her head, words spoken in half-formed sentences, things she couldn't comprehend.

Her entire body shook as she clawed at her face, covering her eyes as she looked up to the ceiling, her fingers digging into her skin as the sound of her ragged breath echoed. Her own blood dripped down from the punctures in her skin, and yet, she could hardly feel the pain.

All she could think of was the feeling of the Vampire's hands on her and how she couldn't do anything. She was powerless. Helpless.

The thought brought stinging tears to her eyes.

And yet, never did they fall.

Rosa wasn't sure how long she stayed like that. The sensation of her body slowly returning, the numbness in her limbs and the throbbing in her neck dying down. Eventually, she found the strength to stand, though she did not dare to look down.

As much as her mind told her to curl up in a ball and stay there forever, she couldn't.

She stumbled out of the room, taking both the knife and her rifle. It felt heavy in her arms, her grip unsteady and her palms shaking, slick with sweat and something else she didn’t dare name.

Making her way to the entrance, she ignored the many corpses and leaned on the front door. She could see her reflection in the glass.

A monster. A creature covered in gore.

It was a face she was all too familiar with, and one that made her want to vomit once again.

She pushed the door open, the night air hitting her in an instant.

It was freezing. Snow was falling and the wind was howling. The perfect weather to hide from Vampires, but horrible now when she knew she'd be spending a long time in this general temperature, the only blockade being the metal frame of her car.

Still stumbling, she managed to make it to the car, shakily unlocking the door as she tripped inside.

"Gh... hnng..."

As she picked herself back up, she sat down properly and placed her rifle down in the passenger seat, making sure the safety was on even in her mindless rush.

"Fuck...." She muttered under her breath, closing the door beside her and grabbing at the clutch.

Her mind was still a mess, and her body was in no better shape. It was hard to tell exactly which was more hurt in that entire event. Even so, she managed to get the car started. She turned on the headlights, though her vision was still hazy.

It was fine. As long as she was gone, far away from here, she'd be okay. She just had to stay up a bit longer.

So, as her hands were trembling, as her legs felt as if they were about to give out, she began to drive.

Alive.